Olims Bistro

Olims Bar & Bistro is the pub-style bistro attached to the Mercure Canberra, on the corner of Limestone and Ainslie Avenues at the edge of Braddon. The big outdoor beer garden is the dog-friendly part of the venue, which makes this an easy meal stop and a particularly convenient one if you are staying at the Mercure with a dog in tow.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor beer garden on lead and under control; the indoor bistro is people-only, in line with ACT food rules. Water bowls are usually available in the garden, so ask staff and bring your own as a backup. The garden looks towards Mount Ainslie, and the hotel's pet-friendly rooms with enclosed courtyards sit a few steps away, so you can check the dog in properly after dinner.

Worth knowing

The menu is classic bistro value: chicken parmigiana, schnitzels with a choice of sides, steaks, burgers and rotating weeknight specials, ordered and paid at the bar. Happy hour runs on weekday afternoons, and the beer and cider list is solid. Doors open from 11am daily. Weeknight specials pull a crowd early, so mid-afternoon is the quiet window for a relaxed table with a dog.

Getting there and parking

The bistro sits at the corner of Limestone and Ainslie Avenues, Braddon. There is paid on-site parking accessed off Batman Street at the rear of the hotel, plus free and paid street parking around Braddon. Ground-level access from the street to the garden is straightforward with a dog.

Close by with the dogs

The Lonsdale Street dining strip and Haig Park are a short walk for a pre-dinner sniff. Nearby options include Supersweet Cafe for daytime coffee, the Civic Pub for a second dog-friendly beer garden, and the Haig Park dog agility course if the dog has energy to burn before a bistro dinner.